Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from A Short and Concise Account of the Eruptive Phenomena and Geology of Monte Somma and Vesuvius in Explanation of the Geological Map of That Volcano Constructed During the Years 1880-1888
Vesuvius during many centuries has been looked upon as the type volcano, and although others have from time 'to time been ephemeral rivals, this great fire-vent of the Campanian plain still maintains its supremacy. Such can be explained as the consequence of a combination of several circumstances. In the first place, its situation, within easy access from one of the largest towns and sea ports of the Mediterranean, so that there is no part of the mountain that cannot be visited and returned from in one day's excursion from Naples; the peculiar asym metry in its shape, which, while being most striking, is very comprehensive; its beautiful lavas, pumices, fine escarp ments, and numerous and varied dykes, combined with the extraordinary, very varied, and unique series of ejected blocks and their mineral contents make it alike of pro found interest to the mineralogist as to the physical geologist. Then again, its continuous activity has enticed the chemist to investigate its emanations with as much enthusiasm as that displayed by his scientific colleagues. Mineralogists, and perhaps still more, geologists, are keen connoisseurs of beautiful scenery, and have been seduced by the charms of the locality to pay more attention éto the most important element in the beautiful land and sea-scape of the Gulf of Naples. Last, but not least, the innumerable reminiscences. Of history, and even romance, which bear engraven upon many pages the classic name of Vesuvius, which is known to almost every school boy or girl in the civilized world. Its great rival Etna, many times its size, possesses neither the bold slopes, finer precipices, or a more beautiful situation, whilst the rocks of the Sicilian volcano are monotonous in the ex treme. Still less could the solitary, little varying Strom boli, or its equally insulated sister Vulcano, aspire to the majestic and elegant proportions or enviable position of type volcano which Vesuvius is likely to continue to hold.
Under such circumstances no apology is necessary for laying before the public a very detailed geological map of this unique volcano. No other geological Maps of Vesuvius have been published; the few physical maps already in existence are but of small scale, and based on defective topographical surveys, whilst their only aim has been a problematical delineation of the historic lava streams.
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